My Genealogy Hound

Gottlieb Schuerkamp, farmer and merchant, was born in Prussia in the year 1838, where he was reared and educated. His father, Henry Schuerkamp, was killed while coupling cars, drawn by horses in the construction of a railroad in the old country. Afterward the mother, whose maiden name was Anna Kiel, married Fred Grube. The younger members of the Kiel family took the name Overkamper from the fact that they bought an estate bearing that name. About 1851 Mr. Grube came to this country, and, after making sufficient money, sent for the other members of the family. They lived in St. Louis for about five years, and then, in 1858, came to this county, where they purchased eighty acres of timber. Their first residence was a log house. Mr. Grube soon started a store on his farm, and continued the same until his death. The mother then took charge of the store, which she kept for some time. She is still living, being about seventy-eight years of age. By her first marriage she became the mother of five children, two of whom are now living. Two children were the result of her second marriage, both of whom are deceased. Gottlieb spent his early life farming, and during the war served in the militia. In 1864 he married Christina Bogart, who was born in Baden, Germany, in the year 1842. Seven children were the result of this marriage: Frederick, Josephine, Anna, Christ, Ida, Gusta and Amanda. Soon after marriage Mr. Schuerkamp rented one of the farms he now owns, and at the solicitation of friends, was induced to open a small store, the neighbors aiding him to build a log store-house. Soon after he purchased three acres where his house and store now stand. Gradually his stock has increased until he now owns a first-class country store, and 320 acres of land. He is a Republican in politics, although not a strict partisan, and both he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.